Underrail: The Incline Awakens

[Tigranes]

So on DOM, I'm curious - what are some tricks people have for first encounters with Beetles?

For some characters (e.g. Psi), the answer is simple: blast them. For others (e.g. heavily dependent on mechanical damage), nades & molotovs is the answer to everything in life, but is there anything else? E.g. a level 3 versatility DEX knife/firearm pistol build. Wondering what they could do at that point other than that.

 

[jackofshadows]

Look, it's very simple.

Stealth~DEX~AGI-oriented character = Coretech, Free Drones, Oculus, Grim Jetters

Tin Can~STR~CON-oriented character = Praetorians, Protectorate, Oculus, Aegis

No one will want to skip Oculus, obviously, and it has no true counterpart. Probably not even fist wizards should bother with JKK, but I've been wrong before.

Protectorate's omnilube is really nice for a sniper and you can buy black cloth off Derica other than Free Drones. JKK gives awesome armor and their trader has really high quality items even if it more rng-dependent due to limited stock. Anyway, here's some sheet from another thread, seems reliable. It's also says that Ladelman doesn't restock drugs dunno why I remembered it differentely, probably because I didn't use it and picked up more during Expedition content.

For some characters (e.g. Psi), the answer is simple: blast them. For others (e.g. heavily dependent on mechanical damage), nades & molotovs is the answer to everything in life, but is there anything else? E.g. a level 3 versatility DEX knife/firearm pistol build. Wondering what they could do at that point other than that.

You can net them and shank with a knife one by one or lure onto bear traps but it might be really tiresome. Molotovs are just a way better solution. Just remember to be careful around Newton ^_^

 

[CHEMS]

So on DOM, I'm curious - what are some tricks people have for first encounters with Beetles?

For some characters (e.g. Psi), the answer is simple: blast them. For others (e.g. heavily dependent on mechanical damage), nades & molotovs is the answer to everything in life, but is there anything else? E.g. a level 3 versatility DEX knife/firearm pistol build. Wondering what they could do at that point other than that.

Traps, wait them to open carapace, chuck grenades and molotovs. Gas grenades, if you can craft them, are great to kill stronger enemies in a killzone with bear traps. With psi, TC especifically, you can mental subvert + fear, them chase the goliathus casting NO, or damage him a little bit and re-stealth.

 

[CHEMS]

It's also says that Ladelman doesn't restock drugs dunno why I remembered it differentely, probably because I didn't use it and picked up more during Expedition content.

He'll restock drugs, but not the supersoldier one.

 

[Blaine]

Protectorate's omnilube is really nice for a sniper and you can buy black cloth off Derica other than Free Drones. JKK gives awesome armor and their trader has really high quality items even if it more rng-dependent due to limited stock.

Quite a lot of new stuff has been added since I last played right after Expedition's release: random encounters, Drag 'n' Drop, special uniforms for Core City factions, unique non-craftables for various factions, etc. I often forget about that.

If JKK sells high-quality complete gear, it might be a good choice for a non-crafting playthrough. I can't imagine anyone does non-crafting playthroughs anymore, since there isn't that much else to spend points on for a given build, unless you're maxing Dodge, Evasion, Persuade, and Mercantile. The way Underrail is set up, it's difficult to obtain an ideal primary weapon or a decent supply of high-end expendables without it. Even the prospect of Super Steel/infused gear and stuff like Power Management makes it hard to pass up crafting.

That said, I feel that I'm finding better non-crafted stuff this time around, although only from merchants. Loot and most unique gear remains rubbish. Goggles in particular—you can get a very decent set. Also, stealth characters seem to be somewhat less crafting-dependent.

 

[CHEMS]

Just looted a 700hp high-high shield from Minister Percival at level 10. You guys do kill all the tchortists in Core City, right?

 

[ciox]

Just looted a 700hp high-high shield from Minister Percival at level 10. You guys do kill all the tchortists in Core City, right?

That was my initial instinct to make things more interesting, but I stopped because it softlocked the game in older versions, no way to access the institute.

 

[CHEMS]

Well, now you can! I did kill him for the robes, but the shield was a pleasant surprise.

 

[Ghulgothas]

Well, now you can! I did kill him for the robes, but the shield was a pleasant surprise.

Does the rest of Core City, or the Institute for that matter, not turn hostile if you do? Damn, that'd be pretty funny if they're just eager to see them gone as you are.

 

[ciox]

You can start killing factions in Core City, and it will only start a fight with that faction, just be careful with the Institute area in case you can still softlock it.

 

[Fenix]

So on DOM, I'm curious - what are some tricks people have for first encounters with Beetles?

If you mean newton, I use fludgate system.
For other one, depends on weapon. With pistols, if you able to deal so much damage to safely eliminate them - you do that, if not - sneak past.

Well, now you can!

Wait what? I though Istitute turns hostile to player if you eliminate Persival&Co.
Something was changed?

 

[CHEMS]

Well, now you can! I did kill him for the robes, but the shield was a pleasant surprise.

Does the rest of Core City, or the Institute for that matter, not turn hostile if you do? Damn, that'd be pretty funny if they're just eager to see them gone as you are.

Nope, nobody gives a flying fuck about me killing Tchortists Missionaries. 600 easy xp each plus loot.

Wait what? I though Istitute turns hostile to player if you eliminate Persival&Co.
Something was changed?

As long you kill them in Core City, Institute doesn't turn hostile.

 

[Blaine]

Just looted a 700hp high-high shield from Minister Percival at level 10. You guys do kill all the tchortists in Core City, right?

I euthanize every faction that gets on my nerves for any reason... eventually.

The Expedition natives take the cake, though. In my inaugural Expedition playthorugh, I napalmed their grandmas and womenfolk with a glee nearly unmatched since the Rape of Nanking.

 

[Ghulgothas]

The Expedition natives take the cake, though. In my inaugural Expedition playthorugh, I napalmed their grandmas and womenfolk with a glee nearly unmatched since the Rape of Nanking.

The scale and scope of the Sørmirbæren Holocaust is really wierd in how few characters acknowledge it. I mean, I think there's more characters who'll acknowledge you as the Arena Invictus then there are characters who react to the Scouring of the Serpentborn. Even the Ferryman doesn't give a shit.

 

[jackofshadows]

This is new, isn't it?

I mean, I think there's more characters who'll acknowledge you as the Arena Invictus then there are characters who react to the Scouring of the Serpentborn.

The latter weren't streamed via ArenaNow.

 

[Ghulgothas]

This is new, isn't it?

One of three new things put in to make knife-throwing more fun. Dunno if it is, yet though. Will need to see if Jasede's legendary suffering was worth it in the end.

 

[ghostdog]

The Expedition natives take the cake, though. In my inaugural Expedition playthorugh, I napalmed their grandmas and womenfolk with a glee nearly unmatched since the Rape of Nanking.

Yeah, I exterminated the natives too, mainly because I had no desire whatsoever to go though another tedious scripted attack on the expedition. Too bad all Expedition factions are just asking for genocide. The Pirates have very little content and are easy as fuck to become hostile anyway, while the expedition itself is acting like they are high and mighty, but in reality they are a bunch of wusses that you constantly have to save from complete destruction and instead of kissing your feet, they act like you're their servant.

Surprisingly, the only likable --or at least inoffensive-- faction are the mutants.

 

[Blaine]

Yeah, I exterminated the natives too, mainly because I had no desire whatsoever to go though another tedious scripted attack on the expedition.

If nothing else, the native attacks—alongside the warehouse mission—are an absolutely fantastic opportunity to employ large quantities of gas grenades.

Gas grenades otherwise generally require a great deal of finagling to employ effectively, and are all but useless in the Arena, most scripted killboxes, etc.

 

[Drowed]

This reminds me that in almost every new game, just to have fun, I kill Chief Briggs when, in conversation with him, I pass the intelligence check and question the real risks of the expedition. At this point I'm essentially a monster, the effing Invictus (always complete the arena before going to the expansion), but Styg's narration makes it sound like Briggs is kinda making me "beg for mercy" by squeezing my shoulder with his hand. Fuck that, I kill him in 1 turn, and then kill all the surrounding NPCs. Then, I load the save again and ignore this check because I am feeling generous.

But I really wanted to have the opportunity to fight back in the dialog in some way, either by squeezing his arm or by doing the same thing to him. Even if the result of that would be to engage in combat. Most of the time I end up killing a lot of people because it just seems surreal to me. The NPCs are basically talking to a murderous psychopath and treating me like a beggar, or like I have to be afraid of them? One of the very few things I dislike about Underrail (besides Deep Caverns) is the fact that Styg uses in his dialogues events that impose certain emotions/situations on you without there being an option to respond or fight back in the dialogue itself.

Since I cannot retort with words, I will then retort by frying your brain.

 

[CHEMS]

Just looted a 700hp high-high shield from Minister Percival at level 10. You guys do kill all the tchortists in Core City, right?

I euthanize every faction that gets on my nerves for any reason... eventually.

The Expedition natives take the cake, though. In my inaugural Expedition playthorugh, I napalmed their grandmas and womenfolk with a glee nearly unmatched since the Rape of Nanking.

I too think genociding the natives is the best part of any playthrough. I wish there were more of them so i could kill them.

 

[Tygrende]

SI builds are for advanced players, not novice ones. I remember Blaine saying that it's dumb to balance the game around players with thousands of hours and i think that's exactly the case

DOM difficulty is exactly for that kind of players to begin with so I disagree that it shouldn't be balanced around them. Not to mention that the game itself is a niche product for RPG-enthusiasts only. It's possible to have slightly different feats/mechanics for DOM exclusively, for example.

Well, DOM is a unfair difficulty. Only for extremo autisto people like us.

Speaking of it, playing on hard now, doing my merchant runs. I do it like this:

>loot shit
>sell shit
>if they can't pay for all i have to sell, buy spare parts
>use spare parts to craft even better shit
>sell better shit
>buy even better parts

Making around 3~4k during these merchant runs. Can't seem to do this on dominating cus of the sales nerf. I really, really, REALLY would like to be able to tweak this, but i don't know how.

Also, since i'm obsessed with jet stealing, i'll post yet another guide to get a cool jet relativelly early:

>join expedition
>defend island from natives
>report back and gain your keys to the junk jet
>junk jet is for zoners, you're gonna snatch a aegis patroller out of the bat

WHAT YOU NEED:

>high lockpicking (around 100) OR high pickpocketing (around 100), effective
>a C4 (or 2 C4s if you don't have pickpocketing)
>place C4 near the exit grid on the northern side of the map were the Aegis are moored
>walk nonchalantly near the patroller that is the farthest of the sentry or you'll get spotted
>do it quickly, either picklock with the patroller or just jump on it if you stole a key from a nearby soldier
>once in the patroller, enter combat and get out before anyone sees you

You now have a Aegis Patroller without even killing for it. Be careful though, if any Aegis sees you with the ride, they'll shoot you on sight. If you need to take the jet to Arch Keep, disembark at the beach and you're golden

PS: do NOT detonate the C4 before defending the island! Aegis will turn hostile. Do it AFTER defending the island and getting the junk jet keys!

Or you could just prevent the kidnapping with 38 pickpocket and get it for free right after the 1st invasion.

 

[Twiglard]

What are those devices in the savages' cemetery? Is it worth it passing the persuasion check with the savage guy who wants to talk to you?

Also there was some area with a room full of turrets that activate when you approach a door. I skipped it and tried to return later but forgot which area it was. Where was it?

 

[Blaine]

I've just realized that The Juice counts as a medicine, not as a food. I can therefore explore danger zones with eel sandwiches and The Juice (or one of the new high-end consumables, if desired) active at all times. There's also locust honey to consider.

I think that decides me. I'll opt for the AGI variant of my build. I generally take the Fallout approach and spray my SMG right up my targets' nostrils anyway, since point-blank range adds far more accuracy than even 20 PER could ever accomplish.

Speaking of which, I've been contemplating the "side benefits" of the primary weapon stats in Underrail. High PER enables you to find hidden secrets, spot traps, and detect Death Stalkers, which in my opinion makes it #1 (in terms of side benefits). STR increases your Fortitude a bit and increases your carry weight as well, although frequently a good portion of that carry weight will be negated by the tin can or riot armor and possibly a sledgehammer you'll probably be carrying. Carry weight is great in this game, though, so STR is #2.

DEX affects the most skills total, which can perhaps be considered a side benefit; and it helps to increase Initiative, a stat that unfortunately often doesn't matter for DEX-primary characters except in the Carnifex match. It also aids (slightly, these days) with fishing. In terms of side benefits, I rate it #3. I'm aware that DEX is important for Dominating and meme builds with 2 AP attack costs, but we're talking about side benefits here.

 

[Twiglard]

DEX affects the most skills total, which can perhaps be considered a side benefit; and it helps to increase Initiative, a stat that unfortunately often doesn't matter for DEX-primary characters except in the Carnifex match. It also aids (slightly, these days) with fishing. In terms of side benefits, I rate it #3. I'm aware that DEX is important for Dominating and meme builds with 2 AP attack costs, but we're talking about side benefits here.

For builds using light weapons, sure. Without INT you can't possibly get all crafting skills and mercantile up to 130 and 110, respectively. Not having a crafting build seems like a sacrilege in this game.

 

[CHEMS]

Or you could just prevent the kidnapping with 38 pickpocket and get it for free right after the 1st invasion.

Pirates turn hostile, and thats not what i want, since Briggs is a fucking asshole.

So guys, i'm doing a machete guy for the first time ever. Never touched melee unless for the versatility stuff. Do agility really counts? I don't feel having more than 8 agility. My machete guy is at level 9 with the stats 8, 10, 8, 3, 5, 5. Inteligence and will because i want to get Ripper and Cheap Shots. How does one deal with several ranged enemies? I've been pumping Evasion and Dodge, for the first time also.